Container for dispensing comestibles

Abstract

A container for dispensing comestibles, such as a dry cereal dispenser, is provided that is generally designed to be capable of being fully cleaned and sanitized in order to avoid exposing the comestibles to contamination. In this regard, the various components of the container, such as the handle, the lid and the bottom closure, are advantageously mounted to the vessel such that the inner surface of the vessel with which the comestible is in contact is smooth and uninterrupted and, therefore, capable of being thoroughly cleaned. By including a removable bottom closure, the container may capable of being refilled through the bottom, opposite the open top through which the comestible is dispensed, to prevent stagnation of the comestible in lower portions of the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to containers for dispensing comestibles, such as dry cereal and other foodstuffs, and, more particularly, to containers for dispensing comestibles, such as single-serve or patron-serve containers, that include few, if any, sites at which contaminants can accumulate and which can be readily cleaned to thereby provide more sanitary and sterile conditions for the storage and dispensation of the comestibles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONContainers for dispensing comestibles, such as dry cereal and other foodstuffs, are widely utilized. These containers are provided in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and designs and generally serve to store bulk quantities of a particular foodstuff. Individual portions of the foodstuff may then be dispensed from the container as desired. By providing bulk quantities of the foodstuff, the cost of each individual portion may be reduced somewhat relative to prepackaged individual servings of the sa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a container for dispensing comestibles, such as a dry cereal dispenser, that can be fully cleaned and sanitized to prevent contamination. The container includes a handle and a lid that can be opened and closed, and the inner surface of the vessel is smooth and uninterrupted. The container also has a removable closure for sealing the lower end of the vessel, which can be removed to permit cleaning and refilling of the vessel. The container is designed to be easily sanitized and can be refilled through the bottom, while avoiding stagnation of the comestibles in lower portions of the container."

Problems solved by technology

In particular, this type of dry cereal dispenser is difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize; therefore undesirably subjecting the dry cereal to contaminants.

This conventional type of cereal dispenser generally has several features that are difficult, if not impossible, to clean that serve as sites at which contaminants accumulate.

As such, the heads of the fasteners are exposed within the vessel and are difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize.

The heads of these fasteners are also difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize.

In these instances, the corner between the sidewalls and the bottom of the vessel is also difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize and serves as yet an additional site for contamination.

As will be apparent, the exposure of virtually any comestible, including dry cereal, to contaminants is undesirable.

The manner in which this type of dry cereal dispenser is refilled may also pose a problem.

If this practice of refilling is repeated, the upper portions of the dry cereal dispenser may include fresh cereal, but older and, in some instances, undesirable cereal may stagnate in the lower portions of the vessel.

As will be apparent from its relatively complex design, this dispenser may also be somewhat difficult, if not impossible, to completely sanitize and therefore may expose the cereal or other comestibles to contamination.

Additionally, this more complex dispenser is generally more expensive than the dispensers comprised of an upstanding vessel from which the dry cereal or other comestibles may be poured.

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